After suffering a home defeat on the opening matchday of the Europa League, AC Milan will look to recover lost ground when they travel to Austria to face Red Bull Salzburg on Thursday. While the Italian giants were beaten by Benfica in their opening league-phase fixture, Salzburg began their campaign…...
After suffering a home defeat on the opening matchday of the Europa League, AC Milan will look to recover lost ground when they travel to Austria to face Red Bull Salzburg on Thursday.
While the Italian giants were beaten by Benfica in their opening league-phase fixture, Salzburg began their campaign with a 1-0 away victory.
Match preview
Despite enjoying more possession and recording 40 touches in the opposition box, Milan suffered a 2-0 defeat to Benfica at San Siro.
Beaten by his former club, which he represented for nine years as a player, Ruben Amorim endured a disappointing return to Europa League action after Manchester United lost the 2025 final.
Nevertheless, that defeat remains Milan’s only loss this season, with Amorim’s side collecting 12 points from their opening six Serie A matches.
After beating Lecce 3-0 before the international break, the Rossoneri were held to a 1-1 draw by familiar opponents Sassuolo last week, leaving them fifth in the Italian top flight.
Milan are now unbeaten in their opening six league matches for the first time since 2022. Having narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification in May, they are gradually rebuilding under their new management.
Before facing regional rivals Atalanta in a difficult domestic fixture on Sunday, Milan will aim to carry their momentum into Thursday’s encounter in Austria.
Read Also: AC Milan Sign Goncalo Ramos In Club-Record £60m Deal
History is on their side, with the Italian club winning nine of their 13 previous matches against Austrian opposition. Their most recent meeting with Salzburg ended in a convincing 4-0 victory in November 2022.
Across four previous encounters, all in the Champions League, Salzburg have never defeated Milan, whether under their current identity or previous guise.
More immediately, however, Die Roten Bullen sit three points ahead of their illustrious visitors in the Europa League standings after winning their opening fixture.
Haris Tabakovic scored as Salzburg secured a 1-0 victory over Levski Sofia in Bulgaria, extending their impressive start under new management.
Former Rangers boss Danny Rohl has guided the Austrian side through 15 competitive matches without defeat, recording 11 wins and four draws.
Following a goalless draw against Grazer AK last week, Salzburg sit second in the Austrian Bundesliga, three points behind leaders Rapid Vienna.
Red Bull Salzburg Europa League form:
W
D
W
W
W
Red Bull Salzburg form (all competitions):
W
W
D
W
W
Read Also
D
AC Milan Europa League form:
L
AC Milan form (all competitions):
W
D
D
L
W
D
Team News
Amorim could rotate his Milan squad for Thursday’s fixture, with several players competing for places in support of Goncalo Ramos in attack.
Alphadjo Cisse, Diego Moreira, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Omari Hutchinson and Christian Pulisic will all be hoping to earn starting roles.
The visitors are also expected to make a forced defensive change after Mattia Gabbia suffered a thigh injury against Sassuolo, which could keep him out for four months. Alexis Saelemaekers is also unavailable.
After featuring in the second half on Sunday, 41-year-old Luka Modric could make his 157th European appearance. It would be his first appearance in European competition outside the Champions League since November 2011.
Meanwhile, Salzburg have several promising young players in their squad, including 20-year-old forward Edmund Baidoo, Polish teenager Bartosz Mazurek and Christian Zawieschitzky.
Zawieschitzky recently started Austria’s UEFA Nations League match against Kosovo, becoming the country’s youngest national-team goalkeeper in 81 years.
Another recent international debutant, Nikolas Veratschnig, features on Salzburg’s injury list alongside Soumaila Diabate and Enrique Aguilar.
With seven Bundesliga goals between them this season, either Tabakovic or Karim Konate is expected to lead the hosts’ attack.
Red Bull Salzburg possible starting lineup:
Zawieschitzky; Lainer, Boma, Drexler, Schmid; Mazurek, Barry; Baidoo, Kitano, Vertessen; Konate.
AC Milan possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Tomori, De Winter, Pavlovic; Chukwueze, Musah, Modric, Bartesaghi; Pulisic, Cisse; Ramos.
Prediction
Red Bull Salzburg 1-1 AC Milan
With only one defeat between them this season, the two sides could play out a draw in Austria.
Salzburg have produced more convincing results in the Europa League so far, but Milan possess greater experience at the highest level of European football.